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You Are My Joy (Psalm 63)

David writes a psalm of praise to God and thanksgiving for His goodness. The entirety of the psalm is worth review:

Psalm 63:1–11 (NKJV)

1 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword;
They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

David’s ode to His Lord is full of references to the Lord’s desirability (1 – 2), His lovingkindness and provision (3 – 5), His continuing help (6 – 8), His defense of His people (9 – 10), and His blessing of His people (11). David takes this opportunity to praise His God without really asking for anything or declaring his troubles. This is a wonderful example of how praise should be given independently of petition at times. Too often, the only praise that escapes our lips is coupled with petitions for our needs to be met. God deserves praise when we are not asking for anything as well. Take some time to praise Him without moaning, groaning, asking, or begging once in a while. He is worthy!